Staff members represent the people who provide services to your customers. This article introduces how staff works in Speako and why it's important for your business.
What Are Staff Members?
In Speako, staff members are the service providers at your business—the people who:
- Perform services for customers
- Have their own schedules and availability
- Can be booked for appointments
- Work at one or more locations Examples include hairdressers, massage therapists, consultants, trainers, and any other professionals who provide services directly to customers.
Why Staff Matters
Your staff configuration directly impacts:
Booking Availability
When customers request appointments through your AI agent, the system checks which staff members can provide the requested service and when they're available. No available staff means no available bookings.
Service Delivery
Staff are linked to the services they can provide. A customer can only book a haircut if a hairdresser is available, and a massage only if a massage therapist is free.
Schedule Management
Each staff member can have their own schedule that differs from your location's hours. Part-time employees, specialists with limited hours, or staff who work multiple locations all get individualized scheduling.
Key Staff Information
Each staff member has a profile that includes:
- Name — Their display name for bookings
- Contact Information — Phone number and email
- Profile Photo — Optional image for identification
- Bio — Description of their expertise or background
- Job Titles — Their roles (e.g., "Senior Stylist", "Certified Therapist")
- Services — What services they can provide
- Availability — When they work
Staff in Different Business Types
Service-Based Businesses
Staff are essential for service businesses:
- Customers book specific staff members
- Each staff has services they can perform
- Availability determines appointment slots
Restaurants
For restaurants, staff work differently:
- Focus is on table availability, not individual staff
- Kitchen and service staff typically don't have customer bookings
- Staff management is simpler
Getting Started with Staff
To set up your staff:
- Navigate to Staff in the sidebar
- Add each team member who provides services
- Assign their services and availability
- Your AI agent will automatically offer booking slots based on staff availability